JP7462682B2 - Product Monitoring - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to tracking products using active wireless tags.

It can be useful or even necessary for product manufacturers and/or distributors to track their products. Medicinal products and plant protection products, for example, are subject to numerous official regulations, including mandatory requirements in some countries to ensure product track-and-trace. For this purpose, each individual package is given a unique identifier (e.g. a serial number) to allow the package to be unambiguously identified at a later time (serialization). Portable products can be unambiguously assigned using unique identifiers, but it is not possible to determine the location or status of a released product based on the unique identifier alone.

It may also be useful to track products to optimize production and/or for logistics purposes. If a user or distributor of a consumable product has a high level of inventory, the user/distributor is not expected to order relatively large quantities of new products in the near future. This information may be incorporated into planning for the production of products and/or the distribution and/or storage of already manufactured products in order to optimize the utilization of production machines and/or warehouse utilization and/or transportation utilization.

It is therefore desirable to know where each released product is located. Furthermore, it is desirable to know whether the packaging in which the product is normally contained before use has already been opened or is still unopened, since if the packaging has been opened, it can usually be assumed that the product contained therein will be used in the near future and a new product will be required.

It is also advantageous to be able to easily identify if a product has been damaged or opened before reaching its destination.

It is desirable to be able to monitor the entire logistics chain, i.e. from production to consumption/use of the product, in order to be able to check, for example, whether storage conditions are respected. It is desirable to know the conditions to which the product is exposed during transport and/or storage.

This is achieved by the subject matter of the present invention.

The first subject of the present invention is an active radio tag,
The wireless tag includes a unique identifier;
The RFID tags are designed to be attached to product packaging.
The wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detects a packaging condition;
The wireless tag is configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the condition of the package to a transceiver over a mobile wireless network at timed intervals.

Another subject of the invention is a product comprising packaging material, the packaging material being attached to an active radio frequency tag,
The wireless tag includes a unique identifier;
The wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detects a packaging condition;
The wireless tag is configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the condition of the package to a transceiver over a mobile wireless network at timed intervals.

Another subject of the invention is
At least one active radio frequency tag;
At least one transceiver;
A computer system;
A system including:
At least one wireless tag includes a unique identifier;
At least one radio tag is designed to be attached to a packaging material of the product;
The at least one wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detecting a packaging condition;
at least one wireless tag is configured to transmit a unique identifier and status information about the package status to at least one transceiver at time intervals;
the at least one transceiver configured to receive the unique identifier and the status information from the at least one wireless tag;
The at least one transceiver is configured to determine location information;
the at least one transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information over a network to a computer system;
the computer system is configured to receive the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information from the transceiver;
The computer system is configured to identify the product in the database based on the unique identifier;
The computer system is configured to, for the identified product, store the location information as a product location;
The computer system is configured to store the status information as a packaging status for the identified product.

Another subject of the invention is
- attaching an active radio frequency tag having a unique identifier to the product's packaging; - the radio frequency tag detects the packaging condition;
- the radio tag transmitting a unique identifier and status information about the packaging condition to a transceiver via a mobile radio network;
- a transceiver determining location information;
- the transceiver transmitting the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information over a network to a computer system;
- a computer system identifying the product based on the unique identifier;
- storing the location information in a database as the location of the identified product;
- storing the status information in a database as the packaging status of the identified product;
The method includes:

Another subject of the invention is a computer program product, comprising a program code stored on a data carrier, which program code, when loaded into the working memory of a computer system,
- receiving a unique identifier, status information, and location information over a network;
- identifying the product based on a unique identifier;
- storing the location information in a database as the location of the identified product;
- storing the status information in a database as the packaging status of the identified product;
Have them carry out the procedure.

The present invention will be described in more detail below, without distinguishing between the subject matter of the invention. Instead, the following descriptions are intended to apply equally to all subject matter of the invention, regardless of the context in which they appear.

In the present specification or claims, if steps are described in a sequence, this does not necessarily mean that the invention is limited to the sequence described. On the contrary, the steps can be performed in a different sequence or in parallel with each other (although this will become clear in each individual case), except where one step is built upon another, which of course means that the step that is built upon the other step is performed later. Therefore, the sequence described is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

According to the present invention, the product packaging is equipped with an active wireless tag.

A product can be any item (physical product) that can be commercially offered and sold.

Preferably, the product is a consumable item or expendable material that is used by a user (end customer) for a stated purpose and in the process is "consumed", i.e. transitioned to a state where it can no longer be used for its original purpose, meaning that the user needs to purchase a new product. Preferably, the product is not intended for immediate use by the user, but rather a product that can be stored for a period of time before being used. Preferably, the storage time is at least several weeks to several years (e.g., 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, or the like).

Examples of products within the meaning of the present invention are pharmaceuticals, plant protection agents, seeds, cosmetics, cleaning agents and the like. The product is preferably a plant protection agent (e.g. herbicide, insecticide or fungicide) or a seed.

The product is contained in packaging material. Packaging material may be used to prepare the product for transport and/or to protect the product from environmental influences that may damage the product (e.g., moisture, oxygen, light, and the like).

Examples of packaging materials are containers, crates, cartons, boxes, envelopes, films, blister packs, canisters, bottles, barrels, sacks, bags, casks, and the like.

The packaging material is equipped with an active radio frequency tag. The term "tag" indicates that the radio frequency tag has a flat extent. Flat extent means that the radio frequency tag extends in three directions in space (e.g. in a Cartesian coordinate system), with the dimensions in two directions in space being many times larger than the dimensions in the third direction in space. The dimensions in the directions in space may be referred to as length, width and thickness, with the length indicating the largest dimension in a first direction in space, the width indicating the largest dimension in a second direction in space and the thickness indicating the largest dimension in a third direction in space. The length is preferably 0.1 to 10 times the width, and the thickness is preferably at least 50 times the length or width, preferably at least 100 times the length or width. The area defined by the length and width is also referred to herein as the base area. The size of the base area is typically in the range of 10 cm ² to 200 cm ² .

The term "active radio tag" means that the radio tag has a means for supplying electrical energy to the radio tag.

The electrical energy serves to supply the radio tag with electricity so that the radio tag can perform its functions according to the invention. In this case it can be, for example, a battery or accumulator. In a preferred embodiment, the energy supply means is a printable battery as described in the examples in US2010021799A, EP3104433A1, KR20170085256A, KR20170098004A and US2010081049A. In one embodiment of the invention, the battery is biodegradable (see, for example, US2016351936A).

Furthermore, the radio tag can be designed to harvest electrical energy from its environment. Energy from the environment can be provided, for example, in the form of light, electric, magnetic, electromagnetic fields, motion, pressure, and/or heat, and/or other forms of energy, and can be used or "harvested" by the radio tag. This kind of electrical energy is known as energy harvesting. Energy harvesting in the field of electronics means a method in which very small amounts of freely available energy can be harvested from the environment and stored. This technique makes it possible to supply the radio tag with energy for its entire useful life, which means that the radio tag does not need to be serviced after installation. An energy harvesting system usually includes an energy converter and an energy management part with an energy storage part, which is usually a capacitor. The energy converter, also known as a micro-generator, converts the energy from the environment into electrical energy. By way of example, the piezoelectric effect, the thermoelectric effect, or the photoelectric effect can be used for the conversion. Further details are given in the prior art (see, for example, http://www.harvesting-energy.de/ and the publications listed there).

Typically, the radio tag is attached to the packaging after the product has been placed in the packaging and closed. However, it is also conceivable that the radio tag may be attached to the packaging before the product is placed in the packaging and/or before the packaging is closed.

It's also possible that the radio tag is part of the packaging.

The radio tag can, for example, be printed on the packaging material or combined (e.g. laminated) with the packaging material to create a composite material.

The radio tag can be placed on the outside of the packaging, which is an area that is not in contact with the product but is in contact with the outside world (environment). However, the radio tag can also be placed on the inside of the packaging, which is an area that is in contact with the product. It is also conceivable that the radio tag could be placed between two packages.

The radio tag can be affixed/inserted onto or within the closure mechanism of the packaging (e.g., onto or within a screw cap).

In one embodiment of the invention, the radio tag is irreversibly attached to the packaging once it has been attached to the packaging, i.e. any attempt to remove the radio tag from the packaging will result in the destruction of the radio tag, "destruction of the radio tag" meaning that the radio tag can no longer be used according to the invention. Such an irreversible attachment can for example be achieved by an adhesive between the radio tag and the packaging, such that the force required to overcome the adhesive and remove the radio tag from the packaging is greater than the force binding the individual components of the radio tag together, meaning that any attempt to remove will separate the individual components of the radio tag from each other.

In another embodiment of the invention, the wireless tag is designed to be reusable, so that the wireless tag can be removed from the packaging again and attached to another package.

The wireless tag has a unique identifier. The unique identifier can be a number, an alphanumeric code, or a binary code, or the like. The unique identifier can be used to identify the wireless tag or to identify the product to which the wireless tag is attached via packaging. Typically, a product database forms part of the system according to the invention. The unique identifier can be used to query the database for information about each product (product name, product type, manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacture, composition, instructions for use, expiry date, recommended expiry date, and the like).

The identifier is stored in a data storage unit of the wireless tag. This data storage unit is preferably a semiconductor memory. The data storage unit for the unique identifier is usually a WORM memory (WORM stands for write once, read many). It is considered that the wireless tag already has the unique identifier before it is attached to the packaging material. However, it is also considered that the unique identifier is only written to the data storage unit after the wireless tag is attached to the packaging material. A control unit of the wireless tag has access to the data storage unit and can read the unique identifier. The control unit can transmit the unique identifier via a transmitter unit of the wireless tag.

The unique identifier is stored in both the data store of the radio tag and in a separate data store of the product, so that the unique identifier and the product are associated with each other and information about the product can be obtained from a product database if the unique identifier is known.

A radio tag has at least one sensor. A "sensor" is a technological element capable of detecting certain physical or chemical properties and/or properties of the surrounding material as a qualitatively or quantitatively measured variable. The properties are detected via physical or chemical effects and converted into a signal, usually an electrical signal, which can be further processed. The electrical signal is usually also digitized before being transmitted wirelessly to a transceiver.

At least one sensor detects measurements that are indicative of a characteristic of the condition of the packaging material and/or the product. Thus, condition information is generated by the at least one sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the wireless tag includes a sensor that detects whether the package is unopened or whether the package has been opened/opened.

The sensor detects the packaging status (unopened/opened) preferably based on a physical property that changes when the packaging is opened and/or opened. The physical property that changes when the packaging is opened can be, for example, electrical conductivity (or electrical resistance) and/or electrical capacitance and/or inductance, or the like.

Sensors could be designed to check at defined intervals whether the packaging is opened or unopened.

In one embodiment of the invention, the radio tag has one or more conductors (e.g. one or more conductive lines and/or conductor tracks) affixed in such a way that when the packaging is opened at least one conductor is irreversibly interrupted, so that current can no longer flow through this conductor. The sensor identifies the interrupted conductor by the fact that the conductivity has changed. This principle is described for example in WO 96 04 881 A1 or DE 195 16 076 A1. In this case the conductor behaves as a meter and opening the packaging brings about an irreversible change to the meter, i.e. the conductor is interrupted.

The sensor could conceivably be designed to detect the process of opening the packaging. The change of state (unopened → opened) can be detected by the sensor, for example, based on the piezoelectric effect: opening the packaging brings about a mechanical stress in the piezo element, which results in an increase in voltage. This voltage, or the effect it has, can be recorded by the sensor.

The radio tag may have a data store in which information about the packaging status is stored. It is conceivable that the sensor is designed to check at defined time intervals whether the packaging is still unopened, and as soon as it is opened, the corresponding (new) packaging status is stored in the data store. Before the radio tag transmits status information about the packaging status, a control unit that is part of the radio tag reads the packaging status from the data store. In such a case, detection of the packaging status and transmission of the status information are decoupled. The radio tag may be configured to query the packaging status via the sensor at defined times until the sensor records that the packaging is open/unsealed. After that, no further query of the packaging status via the sensor is necessary.

In addition to the packaging state "opened/unopened", other packaging states detected by one or more sensors are possible, e.g., packaging crushed/uncrushed, packaging exposed to temperature above a specified maximum temperature value/below a specified minimum temperature value, packaging exposed to (air) humidity above a specified maximum humidity value/below a specified minimum humidity value, packaging exposed to pressure above a specified maximum pressure value/below a specified minimum pressure value, packaging exposed to acceleration forces above a specified maximum acceleration value, and the like. Such packaging states identify the environmental conditions to which the packaging was exposed prior to the time at which the respective packaging state was detected. To detect the packaging state, sensors are typically used, in which components are irreversibly altered by environmental conditions above and/or below specified limits (maximum/minimum). Such components are also referred to herein as instruments. Thus, the instruments indicate whether the instruments have been exposed to the specified environmental conditions.

Furthermore, there may be one or more sensors that detect the environmental conditions to which the packaging and/or product and/or the wireless tag were exposed at the time the measurements were taken. Examples of such environmental conditions are temperature, (air) pressure, (air) humidity, acceleration forces, exposure to electromagnetic radiation in a defined wavelength range, and/or the like.

The purpose of detecting environmental and/or packaging conditions may be to track whether the required transport and/or storage conditions are always respected for a product within the distribution chain, i.e. from production to the end user. The purpose of detecting environmental and/or packaging conditions may also be to track the transport and/or storage conditions so that the current location of a particular product and/or its status are always known.

It is conceivable that a product needs to be cooled to prevent it from spoiling. In such a case, a temperature sensor can detect the temperature at a defined time. If the measured temperature value exceeds a defined maximum temperature value, it becomes clear that the cold chain is not currently being respected. However, it is also possible to use a sensor that includes a thermometer that is irreversibly changed by a temperature exceeding the defined maximum temperature value. During detection, the sensor checks whether the thermometer has changed (because a past temperature exceeded the defined maximum temperature value) or has not changed.

It may be that the product is not freeze-resistant and therefore should not be exposed to temperatures below a minimum temperature value. In such a case, a temperature sensor can detect the temperature at a specified time. If the measured temperature value is below the specified minimum temperature value, it becomes clear that the product has been exposed to excessively low temperatures and may have been damaged. However, sensors can also be used that include a thermometer that changes irreversibly due to temperatures below the specified minimum temperature value. During detection, the sensor checks whether the thermometer has changed (because the past temperature was below the specified limit value) or has not changed.

It is conceivable that a product must not become damp, as this could otherwise result in damage or loss of quality, and in such a case the humidity sensor is able to detect humidity (e.g. air humidity) at a defined time. If the measured humidity value exceeds a defined maximum humidity value, it becomes evident that the current humidity is excessively high and measures should be taken to reduce the humidity. However, it is also possible to use sensors that include a hygrometer that is irreversibly changed by humidity exceeding a defined maximum humidity value. During detection, the sensor checks whether the hygrometer has changed (because the past humidity exceeded a defined limit value) or has not changed.

It is conceivable that a product is sensitive to acceleration forces, for example because it is fragile. In such a case, an acceleration sensor can detect the acceleration force at a defined time. If the measured acceleration force currently acting on the sensor exceeds a defined maximum acceleration value, it becomes clear that the product is at risk of being damaged. However, it is also possible to use sensors that include an accelerometer that is irreversibly changed by an acceleration force exceeding a defined maximum acceleration value. During detection, the sensor checks whether the accelerometer has changed (due to a past acceleration force exceeding a defined limit value) or has not changed.

It is conceivable that the product is sensitive to light. In such a case, the light intensity sensor is capable of detecting the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in a defined wavelength range (e.g., the visible light range (380 nm to 780 nm) and/or the ultraviolet range (e.g., UV-A (380 nm to 315 nm) and/or UV-B (315 nm to 280 nm), or another wavelength range, or multiple wavelength ranges) at a defined time. If the measured light intensity currently acting on the sensor exceeds a defined maximum light intensity value, it becomes clear that the product is currently exposed to an excessively high light intensity, and measures should be taken to reduce the light intensity. However, sensors may also be used that include a light meter that is irreversibly changed by light intensities that exceed a defined maximum light intensity value. During detection, the sensor checks whether the light meter has changed (because the past light intensity exceeded a defined limit value) or has not changed.

There are many commercially available sensors and instruments for measuring temperature, humidity, pressure, acceleration, light intensity, and other environmental conditions.

The environmental conditions are detectable using one or more sensors at a defined time. "Defined time" means that the time at which the measurements are taken follows well-defined rules. For example, measurements may be taken at a given time, e.g. once a day at 12 noon, every hour on the hour, or the like. However, "defined time" should be understood to mean a defined event that triggers the taking of the measurements, e.g. an external (electromagnetic) pulse, the occurrence of vibrations, and the like.

The active radio tag may further have a timer. The radio tag may determine each time a measurement is taken and/or information is transmitted to the transceiver. Each time may be transmitted to the transceiver as time information as well.

The acquisition of measurements and the transmission of information to the transceiver via the network are considered to be coupled to each other, for example the acquisition of measurements is initiated before the information is transmitted and the acquired measurement or measurements are transmitted. However, they can also be separated, in which case the wireless tag has a data store capable of storing measurements. The measurements are acquired at defined times and stored in the data store. Before the information is transmitted, a control unit that is part of the wireless tag identifies the stored measurements and transmits them or the acquired information to the transceiver.

The same applies to the determination and transmission of one or more packaging conditions. Measurements for determining the packaging condition are taken at defined times and can be combined or separated from the transmission of the condition information. It is conceivable that the measurements are taken just before being transmitted, or that the measurements are taken and stored in a data store and retrieved before being transmitted.

The radio tag is designed to transmit information (a unique identifier, status information about the packaging condition, possibly information about environmental conditions, possibly time information) to a transceiver via a mobile radio network.

The term mobile radio network refers to the technical infrastructure over which mobile radio signals are transmitted. A mobile radio network is a communications network in which mobile radio devices are connected wirelessly to fixed transceivers. The network is distributed over several areas called cells, each of which is served by at least one fixed transceiver, but typically three cell sites or base stations. These base stations provide the cells with network coverage that can be used to transmit voice, data, and other types of content.

The information is transmitted from the radio tag to the transceiver via a mobile radio network, typically based on the GSM, GPRS, 2G, 3G, LTE, 4G, 5G or other standards.

For this purpose, the radio tag has a transmitter section including a modem and an antenna for transmitting information via a GSM, GPRS, 2G, 3G, LTE, 4G, 5G mobile radio network or via another mobile radio network.

The radio tag and the transceiver are preferably tuned to each other so that minimal energy is consumed to transmit information from the radio tag to the transceiver. The radio tag is preferably configured to be in standby mode most of the time. The radio tag becomes active at defined times and transmits information to the transceiver that is near (within range of) the radio tag.

The information can be sent, for example, once an hour, once a day, or irregularly.

It is conceivable that the radio tag transmits information at fixed or irregular times. It is conceivable that the radio tag is activated and transmits information due to an event. This event can be caused by environmental conditions and/or by the transceiver and/or by humans. It is conceivable that the radio tag is activated by light when a minimum brightness is reached and/or by heat when a minimum temperature is reached. It is also conceivable that the radio tag is activated by reaching a specified amount of heat or a specified amount of light (amount of energy).

The transceiver is designed to receive information transmitted by one or more radio tags via a mobile radio network from the transceiver (unique identifier, status information about the packaging condition, possibly information about environmental conditions, possibly time information).

The transceiver is preferably a mobile radio base station that receives information from one or more radio tags within its range.

The transceiver is further configured to determine location information, which is useful for assigning a location to the wireless tag or a product to which the wireless tag is attached.

Satellite navigation systems provide location determination with relatively good accuracy. Known satellite navigation systems are for example NAVSTAR GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou. For location determination using a satellite navigation system, the radio tag may be equipped with a sensor that receives signals from a large number of satellites of the satellite navigation system. However, such location determination solutions require a relatively large amount of energy and also imply additional component costs for the radio tag. Furthermore, in many applications it is not necessary to determine the exact location, rather it is sufficient to know the area in which the product is located.

The transceiver may be equipped with sensors that receive signals from a large number of satellites of a satellite navigation system. However, the transceiver is generally fixedly installed and therefore its location does not change. For fixedly located transceivers, the location is usually known.

Therefore, location information can be obtained from the (mobile) radio cell in which the transceiver is installed.

In mobile communications, the simplest way to determine the location is based on the fact that the cell in which the transmitter is located is known. For example, a switched-on mobile phone is connected to a base station, so that its location can be assigned to at least one mobile radio cell (cell ID).

Similarly, the location of a radio tag can be considered to be the same as the mobile radio cell to which the transmitter and receiver are connected. Using GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), the location of a radio tag can be determined with an accuracy of several hundred meters. In towns the location can be determined with an accuracy of 100-500 m, in rural areas the radius increases to more than 10 km. The accuracy can be improved by combining the Cell ID information with the TA parameter (TA stands for Timing Advance). The higher this value, the further away the radio tag is from the base station. The EOTD method (EOTD stands for Enhanced Observed Time Difference) can be used to determine the location of the transmitter with even better accuracy. In this case, the propagation time difference of the signal between the radio tag and a number of receivers is determined. The prior art describes further possible methods for determining the position (see, for example, DE 10029137 A1, DE 102010041548 A1, DE 102012214203 A1, DE 102015121384 A1, DE 102016225886 A1, US 2015119086 A1).

In one embodiment, the information is transmitted and the location determined via a low power wide area network (LPWAN), such as the Sigfox network. LPWANs are specifically designed for small data packets and very low energy operation. LPWAN base stations can communicate over long distances without interference. A single base station can manage up to 1 million wireless tags and has a range of 3-5 km in densely populated areas and 30-70 km in rural areas. With LPWANs, the data packets are received by all base stations within the transmission range. This can be used to determine the location of the wireless tag.

The transceiver may further be configured to determine time information, which may be the time when the information was received from the wireless tag and/or the time when the location information was determined and/or the time when the information was transmitted to the computer system.

The transceiver associates the received information (the unique identifier, status information about the packaging condition, possibly information about environmental conditions, possibly time information) with the determined location information and possibly time information, and transmits all of the data via another wireless and/or wired network to a computer system.

A "computer system" is an electronic data processing system that processes data through programmable algorithms. Such a system includes a "computer," which is a device that typically includes a processor that performs logical operations, and may also include peripheral devices.

In computer technology, "peripheral" means any device that is connected to a computer and used to control the computer and/or as an input/output device. Examples of these are monitors (screens), printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, drives, cameras, microphones, speakers, etc. Internal ports and expansion cards are also considered peripherals in computer technology.

Modern computer systems are often categorized into desktop PCs, portable PCs, laptops, notebooks, netbooks and tablet PCs, as well as what are called mobile devices (e.g., smartphones), and all of these systems can be used to practice the present invention.

Input to a computer system is provided via input means such as a keyboard, mouse, microphone, and/or the like. Input should also be understood to mean selecting an item from a virtual menu or list, or clicking a checkbox and the like.

Output from a computer system is typically provided via a screen, a printer, or by being saved in a data store.

A computer system can be used to manage data for a large number of radio tags. For example, there may be multiple computer systems distributed across different countries and/or geographic regions.

The computer system receives the information (the unique identifier, status information about the packaging condition, possibly information about environmental conditions, location information, possibly time information).

The computer system can be configured to determine time information. The time information can be, for example, the time that the information was received by the transceiver.

The computer system is connected (e.g., via a network) to one or more product databases, and such databases may be an integral part of the computer system. Based on the unique identifier, the computer system queries the database to identify products that are assigned the unique identifier.

The computer system is configured to store the location information in a database as the location of the identified product.

The computer system is configured to store the status information in a database as the product's packaging status.

In a preferred embodiment, the computer system is further configured to store, for the identified product, the environmental conditions to which the product was exposed.

Any information for an identified product that is stored in a database by the computer system may be provided with time information. The time information may be the time that the measurement on which the information is based was taken by a sensor in the wireless tag. The time information may be the time that the wireless tag transmitted the information to the transceiver. The time information may be the time that the information was received by the transceiver. The time information may be the time that the transceiver transmitted the information to the computer system. The time information may be the time that the information was received by the computer system.

If a computer system stores such time information, for example regarding the location of a product, it is possible to determine (track) where the product has been located at various times.

If a computer system stores such time information, for example regarding the packaging condition of a product, it is possible to identify one or more times when a change in the packaging condition occurred.

If a computer system stores such time information regarding, for example, the environmental conditions of a product, it is possible to determine the environmental conditions to which the product was exposed at various times.

The computer system may be configured to determine a location for the identified product from the database and compare this location to the location information. In case of a mismatch, the computer system may send a message to a person, for example to a manufacturer of the product or a distributor of the product. Such a message may include the location information and therefore may inform the person that the location of the product has changed.

The computer system may be configured to determine the packaging condition of the identified product from the database and compare the packaging condition to the condition information. In case of a mismatch, the computer system may send a message to a person, for example, to a product manufacturer or a product distributor. Such a message may include information that the packaging condition has changed and may notify the person of the updated packaging condition.

The computer system may be configured to identify a (tolerable) maximum value for the identified product from the database and compare this with the environmental conditions to which the product was exposed. If the environmental conditions exceed the (tolerable) maximum value, the computer system may send a message to a person, for example to the product manufacturer or to a distributor of the product. Such a message may contain information that the product is/has been exposed to environmental conditions that exceed the (tolerable) maximum value, that the product may have been damaged, and that measures may be taken to prevent further damage or to withdraw the product from the market.

The computer system may be configured to identify (acceptable) minimum values for the identified product from the database and compare this with the environmental conditions to which the product was exposed. If the environmental conditions are below the (acceptable) minimum values, the computer system may send a message to a person, for example to the product manufacturer or to a distributor of the product. Such a message may contain information that the product is/has been exposed to environmental conditions below the (acceptable) minimum values, that the product may have been damaged, and that measures may be taken to prevent further damage or to withdraw the product from the market.

Preferably, a large number of radio tags and transceivers are part of the system of the present invention so that a large number of product units know where they are located and in what condition they are. The manufacturing process and/or logistics and/or storage can be optimized based on this information.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a product manufacturer has access to a computer system and uses this information to optimize production of the product, for example by initiating production of the product when the number of unopened packages in the possession of an end customer falls below a specified threshold.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a product distributor has access to the server and uses this information to order new products and/or ship those products to a defined warehouse when the number of unopened packages in the end customer's possession falls below a defined threshold.

In a preferred embodiment, the wireless tag has an optically readable code, such as a bar code or a matrix type code (e.g., a QR code or a data matrix code). The optically readable code includes a unique identifier based on which the wireless tag and/or the product and/or the batch of products and/or the like can be unambiguously identified. This unique identifier can be the same unique identifier as that accessible to the wireless tag's control unit. However, it can also be a different (additional) unique identifier. The optical code can further include an internet address. The optically readable code can be, for example, printed, stamped or etched on the wireless tag, affixed to the wireless tag in the form of a sticker, or attached or incorporated in the wireless tag in some other way.

Optical codes are used to provide further information about a product to a purchaser/user of the product. This is achieved, for example, by the purchaser/user using a mobile computer system, e.g. a smartphone or tablet computer, to read the optically readable code into the mobile computer system. Typically, the mobile computer system has a camera through which the optical code can be read. The mobile computer system is preferably configured (via an installed software program ("app")) to open a website where information about the product is presented to the purchaser/user based on the scanned optical code. This information can be information specifically targeted to the purchaser/user of this product. Examples could include messages regarding product recalls or information about what to do if the product is exposed to defined environmental conditions that may mean deterioration.

In a preferred embodiment, the purchaser/user receives a message via the wireless tag that the purchaser/user should access a website containing information provided to the purchaser/user by scanning the optical code. For example, the wireless tag may have a status indicator that tells the purchaser/user whether the product's packaging is closed (e.g., sealed), whether the packaging is open and ready to use, or whether the purchaser/user should obtain additional information from a website accessible via the optical code before using the product. The status indicator may be, for example, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). It is conceivable that the control unit of the wireless tag is configured to change the information displayed via the status indicator when measurements obtained via one or more sensors reach or reach a specified value. As an example, if the packaging status sensor records that the packaging is closed, the status indicator may indicate that the packaging is properly closed. If the packaging status sensor records that the packaging is open (unsealed), the status indicator may indicate that the packaging is open. If the sensor records that a limit value (temperature, air humidity, pressure, acceleration force, etc.) is (has) fallen below (or exceeded), the status indicator can indicate (warning signal) that the product has been exposed to harmful environmental conditions (too high temperature, too low temperature, too high air humidity, too high pressure, too high acceleration, and the like). Such a warning signal warns the purchaser/user that there may be something wrong with the product and that he/she should obtain information via a website before using the product. It is also conceivable that the radio tag has a receiver, via which the radio tag can receive a signal. It is therefore possible to change the status indicator, for example via an external signal, in order, for example, to retrieve the product.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the radio tag is present together with the electrical energy supply in the form of a laminated film. Laminated films are advantageous because they are flexible (easy to bend) and therefore can be applied to both flat and curved surfaces of the package. Laminated films can be produced cheaply and in large quantities in a roll-to-roll process (see, for example, Zheng Cui et al.: Printed Electronics, Wiley 2016, ISBN: 9781118920923; S. Lanceros-Mendez et al.: Printed Batteries, Wiley 2018, ISBN: 9781119287896).

The laminated film comprises at least one carrier layer. An antenna and a conductor track are applied to (the top surface of) the at least one carrier layer. The antenna and/or the conductor track can be applied to the at least one carrier layer, for example, via a printing process (see, for example, EP 0 787 371 A1, WO 2010/068469 A1, WO 2013/180399 A1). At least one integrated circuit (IC) is applied to (the top surface of) the at least one carrier layer, the at least one integrated circuit comprising a control unit, at least one sensor for detecting the packaging state, a transmitter unit and a data storage unit. An electrochemical cell is applied to (the top surface of) the at least one carrier layer. The term electromagnetic cell includes both an individual cell with only one anode and one cathode and a combination of multiple individual cells (batteries). The electromagnetic cell is preferably applied to the at least one carrier in a printing process.

Conductor tracks connect the integrated circuit to the electrochemical cell and the antenna.

Beneath (on the bottom surface of) the at least one carrier layer is an adhesive layer that connects the laminated film to the packaging. The adhesive layer is preferably provided with a protective layer (peeling film) that can be removed without leaving any residue before the radio tag is attached to the packaging material.

Preferably, a flexible plastic film is used as the carrier film, e.g. made of fluoropolymers such as PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PSU, PAEK, LCP1 PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM1 ABS, PVC, Teflon, or the like.

The at least one carrier film is preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyester, polyimide, polypropylene, BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene), polyethylene, or polyamide.

The carrier film preferably has a thickness of 5 μm to 700 μm, preferably 5 μm to 200 μm, particularly preferably 30 μm to 100 μm.

Furthermore, paper or composite materials comprising paper, for example composite materials comprising plastics, having a weight per unit area of 20 g/m ² to 500 g/m ² , preferably 40 g/m ² to 200 g/m ² can be used as carrier films. Furthermore, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, such as continuous fiber nonwoven fabrics, staple fiber nonwoven fabrics, and the like, which may optionally be sewn or calendered, can be used as carrier films. Such woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics preferably consist of plastics, such as PP, PET, PA, PPS, and the like, but it is also possible to use woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics made of natural fibers, optionally treated fibers, such as viscose fiber nonwoven fabrics. The woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics used have a weight per unit area of the order of 20 to 500 g/m ² . These woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics may optionally be surface treated.

Of course, the at least one carrier film can also be formed of two or more different layers, e.g. plastic layers, paper layers, metal layers, etc., which are, for example, adhesively bonded or laminated to one another.

Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Zn and Cu can be used as the metal layer of the antenna and/or the conductor track. Possible coating methods are e.g. screen printing, intaglio printing, flexography, inkjet printing and offset printing. Furthermore, printed conductive layers such as conductive polymers, Ag or Cu conductive pastes or conductive carbon pastes can also be considered. The thickness of the metal layer forming the antenna and/or the conductor track is preferably 0.5 μm to 50 μm.

The components that are applied to (the upper surface of) at least one carrier film may be provided with a protective film, lacquer or coating.

Comparable laminated films, and processes for producing them, have been described in the prior art (see, for example, WO 2007/101688 A1, WO 2009/000446 A1, WO 2018223171 A2, WO 2008/067830 A1).

The flat laminated film preferably has a flat area in the range of 10 cm ² to 200 cm ² (length x width). The thickness is preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The flat laminated film can have any shape, and the surface where it is connected to the package preferably has a four-sided (e.g. rectangular, square or trapezoidal), five-sided or six-sided shape.

The electrical conductor (e.g. in the form of a wire or a conductive conductor track) is preferably inserted between the two layers of the laminate film. The sensor is configured to detect an interruption in the electrical conductor, e.g. based on an associated change in the electrical conductivity of the conductor. The electrical conductor preferably has a U-shape. The term "U-shaped" also includes shapes similar to the shape of the letter U, such as a V-shape, a horseshoe shape, a rectangular shape with one missing side, a trapezoidal shape with one missing side, a loop shape, and the like. The U-shape preferably extends along the base region of the radio tag.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the radio tag has a branch (protrusion) that extends in one direction on one side of the radio tag. Such a branch is therefore an extension of the radio tag in a direction that extends parallel to the base area of the radio tag on one side of the radio tag. The branch is in this case narrower than the side of the radio tag from which it extends outward. The conductor is preferably located above the branch or below the branch or within the branch (e.g. between two layers or films). In this embodiment, too, the conductor preferably extends in a U-shape along the branch. If the radio tag is applied to a package, it may be applied to the packaging such that the branch is applied over an opening in the packaging and/or an access point to the packaging. When the packaging is opened, the branch is cut off and the conductor is interrupted in the process.

The branch may be part of at least one carrier film, but may also be attached to at least one carrier film.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a predefined breaking point (tear end, break end, weak spot) is present between the branch and the carrier film or the remainder of the carrier film (depending on whether the branch is part of the carrier film or an independent part) and/or within the branch. When the branch is subjected to mechanical stress, in particular when the branch is pulled (e.g. when opening the packaging), it is separated or cut off from the (remaining) carrier film at the predefined breaking point. This separation/cutting also includes the conductor contained in the branch, which is interrupted. The predefined breaking point on the one hand facilitates the interruption of the conductor, but on the other hand mainly proceeds in a defined manner, with the conductor not being cut almost everywhere, but rather cut along the predefined breaking point. The predefined breaking point can be designed, for example, as a perforation, a notch, a taper, a groove, a cut, an adhesive joint, and/or the like.

Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are as follows.
1. An active wireless tag, the wireless tag including a unique identifier, the wireless tag designed to be attached to a packaging material of a product, the wireless tag including at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detecting a packaging status, the at least one sensor detecting a packaging status of packaging open/unopened or packaging opened/unopened, the wireless tag configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the packaging status to a transceiver via a mobile wireless network at time intervals.

2. An active wireless tag as described in embodiment 1, in which at least one sensor includes a conductor that is interrupted when the packaging material is opened.

3. The active wireless tag of any of the preceding embodiments 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one meter that detects one or more of the following packaging conditions:
- The packaging has been opened,
- The packaging is crushed,
- the packaging has been exposed to temperatures above the specified maximum temperature value/below the specified minimum temperature value,
- the packaging material is exposed to (air) humidity levels above the specified maximum humidity level/below the specified minimum humidity level,
- the packaging is subjected to pressure above the specified maximum pressure value/below the specified minimum pressure value,
- the packaging is subjected to an acceleration force exceeding the specified maximum acceleration value,
- The packaging material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation in a specified wavelength range with an intensity exceeding a specified maximum intensity value.

4. An active wireless tag according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, comprising at least one further sensor for detecting a measured value of an environmental condition, the product and/or packaging material and/or the wireless tag being exposed to the environmental condition at the time the measured value is obtained, and the wireless tag being configured to transmit the unique identifier, status information about the packaging status, and environmental information about the environmental condition to the transceiver via the mobile wireless network at time intervals.

5. An active wireless tag as described in embodiment 4, wherein the environmental conditions are one or more of the following: temperature, atmospheric pressure, air humidity, acceleration force, and intensity of electromagnetic radiation in a specified wavelength range.

6. An active wireless tag according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, including a control unit, at least one sensor for detecting a packaging state, a transmission unit, and a data storage unit, and the unique identifier is stored in the data storage unit.

7. An active wireless tag according to embodiment 6, including a status display unit, and a control unit configured to identify the packaging status via a sensor and cause the status display unit to display the packaging status.

8. An active wireless tag according to embodiment 6, including a sensor for detecting an environmental condition and a status display unit, the control unit being configured to receive at least one measured value from the sensor, compare the at least one measured value with a specified limit value, and cause the status display unit to display a warning signal if the measured value falls below or exceeds the specified limit value.

9. An active wireless tag according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, including a receiver that receives a signal via a mobile wireless network and a status display unit, and a control unit that is configured to receive a signal via the receiver and cause the status display unit to display a warning signal.

10. An active wireless tag including at least one conductor and at least one carrier film having a flat area with a top surface and a bottom surface, the following components being affixed to the top surface of the at least one carrier film, namely, a transmitter, a sensor, and an energy supply unit, an adhesive layer being affixed to the bottom surface of the at least one carrier film, a wireless tag being attachable to a product packaging material via the adhesive layer, the sensor being configured to detect a packaging state, the sensor being configured to detect a packaging state of "unopened packaging material" if the conductor is not interrupted, and to detect a packaging state of "opened packaging material" if the conductor is interrupted, and the transmitter being configured to transmit the unique identifier and the packaging state to a transceiver via a mobile wireless network at time intervals.

11. A product comprising a packaging material and an active wireless tag described in any one of embodiments 1 to 10.

12. The product of embodiment 11, wherein the active wireless tag is affixed to an opening in the packaging and/or over an access point to the packaging.

13. The product of embodiment 12, in which the active wireless tag has a conductor attached so that it is interrupted when the product is opened.

14. The product of any one of embodiments 11 to 13, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a packaging state of "unopened packaging" when the electrical conductor is not interrupted and to detect a packaging state of "opened packaging" when the electrical conductor is interrupted.

15. A system including at least one active wireless tag, at least one transceiver, a computer system, and a database, wherein the at least one wireless tag includes a unique identifier, the at least one wireless tag is designed to be attached to a product's packaging, the at least one wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detects a packaging condition when attached to the product's packaging, the at least one wireless tag is configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the packaging condition to the at least one transceiver at time intervals, the at least one transceiver is configured to receive the unique identifier and the status information from the at least one wireless tag, the at least one transceiver is configured to identify location information, the at least one transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information to a computer system over a network, the computer system is configured to receive the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information from the transceiver, the computer system is configured to identify the product in a database based on the unique identifier, the computer system is configured to store the location information for the identified product as a product location, and the computer system is configured to store the status information for the identified product as a packaging condition.

16. The system according to embodiment 15, wherein at least one wireless tag is a wireless tag according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10.

17. The system of embodiment 15 or 16, including at least one of the wireless tags of embodiment 4, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifier and environmental information about the environmental condition to a computer system, the computer system is configured to identify in a database a product assigned the unique identifier based on the unique identifier, the computer system is configured to identify a minimum or maximum value for the identified product from the database, compare the environmental information to the minimum or maximum value, and send a message to the person if the environmental condition is below the minimum value or if the environmental condition is above the maximum value.

18.
- attaching an active radio frequency tag having a unique identifier to the product's packaging; - the radio frequency tag detects the packaging condition;
- the radio tag transmits a unique identifier and status information about the packaging condition to a transceiver via a mobile radio network;
- a transceiver determining location information;
- the transceiver transmitting the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information over a network to a computer system;
- a computer system identifying the product based on the unique identifier;
- storing the location information in a database as the location of the identified product;
- storing the status information in a database as the packaging status of the identified product;
The method includes:

19.
- a radio tag detects environmental conditions;
- the radio tag transmits environmental information about the environmental conditions to the transceiver via the mobile radio network;
- the transceiver transmitting environmental information about the environmental conditions over a network to a computer system;
- storing, by the computer system, environmental information in a database as environmental conditions to which the identified products were exposed;
20. The method of embodiment 18, further comprising:

20.
- a computer system identifying from a database a minimum or maximum value for the identified product;
- a computer system comparing the environmental information with a minimum or maximum value;
- if the environmental information is below a minimum value or above a maximum value, the computer system sends a message to a person about the underperformance or overperformance;
20. The method of embodiment 19, further comprising:

21.
- obtaining a time;
- the computer system stores in a database location information and time as the location that the identified product had at that time, and/or - the computer system stores in a database state information as the packaging state that the identified product had at that time, and/or - the computer system stores in a database environmental information as the environmental conditions that the identified product was exposed to at that time,
21. The method of any one of embodiments 18 to 20, further comprising:

22.
- determining a location for the identified product from a database;
- comparing the location information with the identified location and, in case of a discrepancy, sending a message to the person regarding the discrepancy;
or
- determining the packaging condition of the identified product from a database;
- comparing the status information with the identified packaging status and, in case of discrepancy, sending a message to a human regarding the discrepancy;
22. The method of any one of embodiments 18 to 21, further comprising:

23. A computer program product comprising a program code stored on a data carrier, the program code being capable of executing, when loaded into the working memory of a computer system ...
- receiving a unique identifier, status information, and location information over a network;
- identifying the product based on a unique identifier;
- storing the location information in a database as the location of the identified product;
- storing the status information in a database as the packaging status of the identified product;
(c) a computer program product that causes

24. A computer program according to embodiment 23, the program code of which, when loaded into the working memory of a computer system, causes the computer system to perform one or more of the steps of the method according to any one of embodiments 18 to 22.

25. Use of a radio tag according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, and/or a product according to any one of embodiments 11 to 14, and/or a system according to any one of embodiments 15 and 17 for optimizing the manufacturing of a product, and/or optimizing the storage of the product and/or optimizing the distribution of the product.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to figures and examples, but it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the features and combinations of features illustrated in the figures and examples.

In the following diagram:
1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a system according to the present invention, including a large number of radio tags (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), a transceiver (2) and a computer system (3). The radio tags (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) are attached to product packaging (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd). Three of the product packaging (Pa, Pb, Pc) are in an unopened state, and one of the product packaging (Pd) is in an opened state. In the figure, the radio symbol indicates the fact that two radio tags (1b, 1d) each transmit information. The information may include the unique identifier of the radio tag, status information about the packaging state, and possibly further information. The transmitted information can be received by the transceiver (2). The transceiver adds at least location information to the received information and transmits all of this information via a network (5) to a computer system (3). The computer system (3) is connected to a database (4). In FIG. 1, the computer system (3) is directly connected to the database (4). The computer system (3) may also be connected to a database (4) via a network (5). Based on the received unique identifiers of the radio tags, the computer system (3) may locate in the database (4) each product that is assigned a unique identifier and store for each product the received location information and the received status information. Schematically shows an example of a radio tag (1) affixed to the packaging (P) of a product. The packaging is closed by an adhesive strip (8). If the adhesive strip (8) is removed or cut along the line (7), a conductor (6) (e.g. a conductive wire) that is part of the radio tag (1) will be interrupted. The radio tag (1) can be configured to distinguish whether the packaging is unopened or opened by identifying the interruption of the conductor (6). An example of a wireless tag (1) is shown diagrammatically. The wireless tag (1) has a sensor (10) that detects the packaging state (e.g. opened/unopened). A control unit (11) is used to control the individual components and regulate the flow of data and signals. Information can be wirelessly transmitted via a transmission unit (12, 13). A unique identifier is stored in a data storage unit (14). An example of a transceiver (2) is shown diagrammatically. The transceiver (2) has a receiving section (21, 22) through which information can be received by mobile radio. A control section (20) is used to control the individual components and regulate the flow of data and signals. The location (location information) of the transceiver (2) or the radio tag (not shown) can be determined through a location determination section (25). The information can be transmitted by a transmitting section (23, 24) to a computer system (not shown) through a network (not shown). As an example, three wireless tags (1a, 1b, 1c) in different states are shown. Each of the wireless tags (1a, 1b, 1c) has a conductor (6a, 6b, 6c), a status indicator (9a, 9b, 9c), and an optically readable code (QR). In the case of the wireless tag (1a), the conductor (6a) is not damaged. A control unit (not shown) of the wireless tag detects the conductivity of the electric wire (6a) via a sensor (not shown) and identifies that the electric wire (6a) is not damaged. The control unit causes the status indicator (9a) to display that the packaging is closed ("sealed"). This display is realized, for example, via a light-emitting diode or a liquid crystal display. In the case of the wireless tag (1b), the conductor (6b) is interrupted. The control unit detects that the electric wire (6b) is interrupted via a conductivity sensor and causes the status indicator (9b) to display that the packaging is open ("not sealed"). In the case of the wireless tag (1c), the conductor (6c) is intact. The control unit detects via the conductivity sensor that the conductor (6c) is intact and causes the status indicator (9c) to indicate that the packaging is closed ("sealed"). In addition, the status indicator (9c) indicates that the purchaser/user should not use the product, but rather should first scan the optical code (QR). The purchaser/user uses the optical code to access a website that provides further information to the purchaser/user. A preferred embodiment of the radio tag according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in (a) a plan view (from above) and (b) a side view (from the front). The radio tag (1) has a flat area, the length L and width B being of the same order of magnitude, but they are many times larger than the thickness D. The basic shape of the radio tag (1) is a hexagon, or alternatively the basic shape consists of two interconnected rectangles. The radio tag (1) is designed as a laminated film. The radio tag (1) has a carrier film (30). The following components are applied to the carrier film (30) (on its upper side): the antenna (13), the energy supply (16), for example in the form of an electrochemical cell, the electrical conductors (6), the electrical conductor tracks (17) and an integrated circuit combining the sensor (10), the control unit (11), the transmission unit (12) and the data storage unit (14). The radio tag (1) has a branch (31) which starts from one side of the radio tag (1) and runs in one direction. The conductors (6) are arranged in a U-shape on the branch (31). The branch (31) is separated from the rest of the radio tag (1) by a predefined breaking point (33). The predefined breaking point (33) is designed as a perforation. An adhesive layer (32) is applied underneath the carrier film (30), via which the radio tag (1) can be attached to the packaging of the product. A preferred embodiment of the radio tag according to the present invention is shown in schematic side view. The radio tag (1) is designed as a laminated film. The radio tag (1) has a carrier film (30). The following components can be seen attached to the carrier film (30): an antenna (13), an integrated circuit (15) and an energy supply (16). An adhesive layer (32) is attached under the carrier film (30). The adhesive layer (32) is protected by a protective film (34). In embodiment (b), a protective film (35) is attached on the carrier film (30) to protect the components (13, 15, 16) on the carrier film (30) from environmental influences. In embodiment (c), a coating (36) is applied to the carrier film (30) to protect the components (13, 15, 16) on the carrier film (30) from environmental influences. Embodiment (a) does not have a protective layer on the carrier film (30).

Claims (3)

An active wireless tag,
The wireless tag is designed as a flexible laminated film,
the wireless tag includes a unique identifier;
The wireless tag is designed to be attached to a packaging material of a product;
The wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor detecting a packaging condition;
the wireless tag is configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the package status to a transceiver via a mobile wireless network at time intervals ;
The device further includes a control unit and a status display unit, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the packaging status via the sensor and cause the status display unit to display the packaging status.
Active radio tag. at least one active radio frequency tag according to claim 1,
at least one transceiver,
- a computer system;
- A database;
A system comprising:
the at least one wireless tag includes a unique identifier;
the at least one wireless tag is designed to be attached to a packaging material of a product;
the at least one wireless tag includes at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being adapted to detect a packaging condition when coupled to the packaging of the product;
the at least one wireless tag is configured to transmit the unique identifier and status information about the package condition to the at least one transceiver at time intervals;
the at least one wireless tag further includes a control unit and a status display unit, the control unit being configured to identify the packaging status via the sensor and cause the status display unit to display the packaging status;
the at least one transceiver configured to receive the unique identifier and the status information from the at least one wireless tag;
the at least one transceiver is configured to determine location information;
the at least one transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information over a network to the computer system;
the computer system is configured to receive the unique identifier, the status information, and the location information from the transceiver;
the computer system is configured to identify the product in the database based on the unique identifier;
the computer system is configured to, for the identified product, store the location information as a location of the product;
the computer system is configured to store the status information as a packaging status for the identified product.
system. - removing the protective film from the active radio tag according to claim 1;
- attaching the wireless tag to a product packaging material via the adhesive layer;
- detecting the packaging condition by the wireless tag;
- said radio tag transmitting said unique identifier and status information about the packaging condition to a transceiver via a mobile radio network;
- said transceiver determining location information;
- said transceiver transmitting said unique identifier, said status information, and said location information over a network to a computer system;
- said computer system identifying a product based on said unique identifier;
- storing said location information in a database as the location of said identified product;
- storing said condition information in said database as a packaging condition of said identified product;
The method includes:

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